Boehner Can't Envision Changing Stance on Gay Marriage

Speaker John A. Boehner said Sunday that his views on gay marriage are unlikely to shift despite a home-state ally’s recent change of heart on the issue.

GOP Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio announced last week that he now supports allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry, a position he used to oppose on religious grounds. He said his stance evolved because of his son coming out two years ago.

While Boehner said on ABC’s “This Week” that he has spoken to his friend about it and is happy for him, he could not envision himself changing his own mind about the issue.

“I believe that marriage is the union of one man and one woman,” said Boehner, who is Catholic.

“It’s what I grew up with, it’s what I believe, it’s what my church teaches me,” he added.